If you’re a fan of jewelry, getting a new piercing can be oh-so-exciting.
Well, it may be a piercing bump or keloid, which can be difficult to tell apart.
Regardless of thetype of piercing, finding a bump can be a bit concerning.
This is totally understandable, especially if you’re a piercing newbie.
What is a piercing bump?
First things first: “Piercing bump” isn’t a medical term.
It’s an informal description of what might develop after you get a piercing.
That being said, there are multiple possible causes of a piercing bump.
Most commonly, a bump is a natural response to physical trauma.
After all, a piercing literally injures the skin, which triggers the body’s healing response.
An infected bump might also release pus or blood and develop a yellow/honey-colored crust, notes Ciraldo.
What is a keloid?
“The less common but more troublesome throw in of bump is a keloid,” says Ciraldo.
This is a hard and rubbery permanent scar that’s due to abnormal wound healing.
What’s more, keloids can continue to grow, so they can become quite large.
They also have 20 times more collagen than healthy skin tissue.
The excess collagen accumulates at the piercing site, resulting in a skin growth.
Other possible keloid symptoms include itching, burning, and pain.
You may be more likely to develop keloids if you have a darker skin tone.
The same goes if you have a personal or family history of keloid formation, according to Ciraldo.
How to tell the difference between them.
How to care for a piercing bump.
If you have a piercing bump sans signs of infection, continue the usual steps foraftercare.
This often meanscleaning the piercingwith saline and leaving it alone as much as possible.
Also, if your piercer provided any specific instructions, be sure to follow them.
The exact protocol might differ depending on the piercer andplacement of your piercing.
And if it gets worse?
The bump might indicate an infection.
How to care for a keloid.
For example, if you have asmall keloid, your doctor might recommend applying a topical silicone gel.
Other keloids might need steroid injections, which shrink the scar by breaking down excess collagen.
About50 to 80%of keloids get smaller after being injected with steroids.
(Pressure decreases blood flow in the area, thus preventing the keloid from redeveloping.)
When to get help.
After getting a piercing of any kind, it’s a good idea to monitor your skin.
Such a bump might be a keloid, which is easier to control with early care and treatment.
The exception is a piercing bump brought on by an infection, which will get worse over time.
This will help minimize the risk of piercing complications, as well as long-term side effects.
